The last Happy Medium Song of the Day that I uploaded was on my birthday at the end of June; a month I spent focused on presenting some of my favorite television theme music. Today is my cousin Mark’s birthday, and I thought a walk-on caliber song for one of the most talented television producer/directors I know would be a good way segue from one birthday tribute to another, and ease back into the swing of things. ​
PictureMark (left) directing the Red Wings - Capitals game for Fox Sports Detroit at the Verizon Center.
I never really had an appreciation for the complexity of live sports broadcasts until I had the opportunity to see Mark in action working for Fox Sports Detroit, first at an Indians vs. Tigers game, and then a Capitals vs. Red Wings game. On both occasions his cool, calm professional demeanor perfectly reflected the name he answers to amongst his colleagues: Ice. A broadcast truck parked inside the bowels of Progressive Stadium or the Capital One Arena is no place to watch a baseball or hockey game, but that’s where Mark and his team distill a multitude of inputs—including audio, video, statistics, trivia, weather, and advertising—down to a single, coherent and entertaining program, broadcast to thousands of viewers across the country night after night. This is complex, in-the-moment story telling with lots of advertising revenue at stake, and an increasingly sophisticated television audience to satisfy. In Mark’s world there’s no such thing as “Take Two,” or “We’ll fix it in post.” In Mark’s world it’s all about action, time and vision. 
So on that note, cuz, the Happy Medium Song of the Day would like to wish you a rousing “happy birthday” with a brash song from punk rock’s unscripted heyday. “Action Time Vision” appears on the 1978 debut album by London’s Alternative TV entitled The Image Has Cracked. It’s a repetitive, short burst of obscure punk proficiency propelled along by a catchy refrain that heralds the nature of the work you do in the illustrious career you have carved out for yourself over the years. Happy birthday, Mark! (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
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Alternative TV